Interior Pests and Spiders

These pests may infest any part of the home. They will generally be found in attics and basements, but can be found in kitchens, baths, and even cedar shake roofs. They can survive for weeks without food and water, but actively look for food sources. They can feed off of paper, wallpaper and wallpaper paste, and some species will eat rayon, artificial silk, and linen.

Workers are small, only 2mm long; it is one of the smallest ants you’ll encounter in Missouri. They are light yellow in color with darker marking on the body. Because of their small size, they can get into the tiniest of cracks and crevices and enter any structure..

Pavement Ants are mainly exterior pests, coming into homes for food and water. Many of the Ants you will see inside are simply foraging for these things. These ants live in colonies of 3000 – 4000 ants. They will occasionally nest indoors in wall voids and behind insulation.

These insects are very nocturnal and spend most of their time hiding in cracks and crevices. They prefer moist areas and small spaces without much light. This makes them very hard to find and even more difficult to control. They are generally introduced into homes and businesses through foundation cracks, expansion joints, under siding or through gaps in foundation that allow utilities to enter. They will eat a variety of things from starches, decaying organic material to garbage.

Colonies may be composed of several hundred to 10,000 ants. Inside, these ants usually construct their nests in wall voids, many times in close proximity to food and water sources such as the kitchen and bathroom. These ants prefer sweets, but also eat foods with high protein content and grease.

These insects are very nocturnal and spend most of their time hiding in cracks and crevices. They prefer moist areas and small spaces without much light. This makes them very hard to find and even more difficult to control. They are generally introduced into homes and businesses through paper products. They will eat a variety of things from glue to tooth paste to everyday foods.

Keep your basement free of debris and clutter. Remove all cardboard boxes and store items in a sealed plastic tote. On the exterior, relocate wood piles and compost piles to far edge of yard, remove old piles of leaves along the house and caulk any cracks. Make sure all doors and windows are well fitted. Wear gloves when working in areas that have Brown Recluse issues.

These spiders are the most dangerous spider in the US. They are considered to be an outside spider mainly as they rarely infest inside homes/business. These pests do live outdoors most of the time in dense vegetation and under rocks. They are one of the few spiders that have a bite which can be dangerous to humans.

These roaches will live in a variety of areas, but do prefer high humidity and a close food source. They are nocturnal and will spend much of their time in hiding. A female that can lie up to 16 eggs at a time will spend 90% of her time in cracks and crevices. Usually found in basements, crawl spaces, storage areas, and other dark and damp spaces. During summer months they can be found outdoors in yards and alleys, this is the most common species found in city sewers.